Australian billionaire Adrian Portelli has claimed he feels safer in Dubai than in Melbourne despite Iran bombarding the city with missiles and suicide drones.
Iran has hammered cities popular with Westerners across the Middle East following the US-Israeli killing of its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
At least two drones struck Dubai Airport – one of the busiest in the world – on Sunday, as well as the world-famous Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah hotels.
Further explosions echoed across the United Arab Emirates on Monday with the country’s airspace completely closed.
The Iranian regime has vowed to unleash its ‘most intense offensive operation in history’, with force its enemies ‘have never experienced before’.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has signalled the US military’s Operation Epic Fury will continue for at least a month.
Despite being stranded in Dubai, Portelli – the founder of the LMCT+ lottery business – said he was feeling calm.
‘Appreciate everyone checking in – we’re totally fine,’ Portelli told followers on Instagram.
Melbourne lotteries billionaire Adrian Portelli has claimed he feels safer in Dubai than in Melbourne despite Iranian missiles raining down on the city
Portelli appeared more concerned about his son spilling red sauce on his white furniture than the missile strikes hitting Dubai
An Iranian Shahed drone hammered Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah hotel. Above map shows the location of the hotel and where Dubai is in the wider region
‘Dubai is still Dubai… dinner plans remain intact.
‘Even though UAE is quite literally in the middle of the war, it still feels safer than Melbourne,’ he said – in an apparent reference to Melbourne’s struggle with crime.
Portelli followed up with a photo of his young son, saying he was more worried about getting pasta sauce out of the lounge than the dangerous political situation.
Tourists and residents panicked on Sunday as Iranian drones struck the landmark Palm Jumeirah hotel, injuring four people, as well as the iconic sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel.
The government of the UAE, which governs Dubai and the six other emirates, confirmed that three people have been killed by Iran’s strikes and 58 more injured.
Dramatic footage showed a fireball lighting up the sky near the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, with a missile intercepted.
Authorities confirmed debris from drones intercepted by air defences fell onto two homes in the city, injuring two people, and also caused a fire at the major Jebel Ali port.
Further videos overnight showed panic inside a smoke-filled, debris-strewn terminal at Dubai Airport, which was evacuated after four members of staff were injured.
The Palm Jumeirah hotel in Dubai was engulfed in flames yesterday after being hit, with four people injured
Smoke rises from Dubai International Airport on Monday morning. Dubai airport is one of the busiest in the world
Dubai’s iconic sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel was set ablaze following Iranian attacks
The UAE’s Ministry of Defence said that, as of Sunday afternoon, it had shot down 152 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 506 drones.
Airspace over the Middle East remains almost completely empty, with most airports closed to all traffic. Around 20,000 flights have so far been delayed or cancelled.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said an estimated 115,000 Australians are currently stranded across the Middle East with airspace closed.
Wong said the government’s priority was helping Australians return home on commercial flights once international routes reopen, urging those in the region to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
‘First we need to see if commercial flights will restart, given the numbers of people in the region,’ she told ABC News Breakfast.
‘The issue is not who is flying, it’s that people are not flying. At the moment, we know this is a very volatile situation.
‘We will continue to provide the most up-to-date and timely information we can, and I urge anyone needing assistance to register with DFAT.’
